Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1887-07-20
DELICATE SURGERY.
a Rabbits Eye su~cesIfulIy and Neatly
TrAnsPlanted TO n Human socket

TrHnsplanted TO n Human Socket.
That bolJest OF modern surgical opera
tions, the transplanting Of a rabbits eve
20 human sock {, which was recently at
temp.eI without succrss In Now York,
has been accomplished by Bo ,tou sur.
Reon. A correspondent OF the transcript
describes the operation, which was per
formed several months ago at the Massa-
chusctt5 Eye aud Ear Infirmary. Tho
patient was n Swiss sailor, about thirty.
five years old, one OF whose eyes had
wasted away on account OF an injury in
early childhood The eye was removed in
the usual manner, with the exception that
strabismus hook was passed beneath the
roOti muscles, and a thread inserted pro-
vious 70 their division from tho rear mem.
brane OF the oyeball The globe was
drawn for ward, a noodle thrust through
the mem brane near the corner OF the eye
tho nerve found, and thread inserted as
near the center Of its substance as posi-
bio. The ncrvo was then cut, the eye re-
moved, and the resulting hemorrhago con-
troled by Ico
The next stage OF tho operation was the
removal Of tbs eye from the rabbit, one OF
these animals having bc"n seiectel whose
iris matched tho color Of the PATIENTS eye.
TIE conjunction was dissccto b aci, wa ri
and the tendons OF tho recti and o5liquo
divided close 10 their insertion, the owe
drawn out, tho nerve divided. and thsn
the globe was transferred 10 tho cavity of
the patients orbit. Tho thread which had
previously been passci through the pa
ticnrs optic nerve was drawn forward, IN
serted into the optic nerve Of tho rabbits
eye, and tho ends Of both nerves brought
into contact Ono end OF the thread was
cut short, and the other, which had been
NJ aH1 oh hn
amor corner OF the eye, was firmly securoI
by means OF pirco OF adhesive plaster to
tho nose Tho four rcci muscles woro
next brought into position, and sewc-l
10 tho subconj unctival tissue, and tho
conjunction attached by four stitches
90 tho band OF the same tissue
which had been left around the cornea.
Tho lids having been closed, iodoform
was dustod over them, and pad Of alb
eorbent cotton and flannel bandags Az.
piled. For seven days the parts were left
undisturbcd. but tho patient was careful
Nv watched for any fcbri Q disturbances.
Nothing OF such nature, however, 90
cured. nor was there any offensive otsor
pcrccptiblc.
On tho seventh dav, on removing thu
brudago and pal, nothing OF an abnormal
character was observed about the Ida
except a small amount Of mucus gluinR
tho laShes together. Tho ego itself was
noNt carefully examined. The cornca pro-
eeutcd slight haziness, but this seemed
20 DO superficial. Tho movement OF the
eyo was good in all directions, except that
divergence was imperfect Tho thread
connecting tho nerve was withdrawn, "a
were also those Of tho superior ami int ,r-
nal recti, but tho inferior, bcing still found
firmly adhcrcnt was allowed to remain.
AtroPino was dropped into the conjuncti-
val sac, the eye closed, and iodoform and
compress used a. previously
On tho twelfth dav after tho operation
tho eye was again examined, as the pa.
tiont complained OF some ANNOYANCE IN IL.
this being tho first complaint no had
made. II was discovered that tho remain
Ing thread attached TO the inferior rec US
bad sloughod out and was found under
tho lowor lid, this, no doubt being tho
cause OF the slight sense of irritation OK
pcrtcnccd. The condition OF tho eve was
as follows; CUrnca hazy, but somewhat
less so than when previously examined:
conjunctival well united around tho cor.
nea and TO tho globe; exposed white Of
this eye on outer side had become covered
70 about half OF its extent; recti muscles
working satisfactorily, with sons i'm.
provemcnt IN divergence over that mani.
feStel before. A month lator thore was n
Etlll further Improvement tho oyo being
capable OF movements in all directions
Whom tho operation was performed
there was no idea that visioi by the trans
planted orb was to DO expected. and. in
deed, thero was but little expectation IN At
tho transplantcd member would even rc-
tain its vitality. The operating physician
~ OF tho opinion that " tho filaments OF
the oyo could DO properly united vision
might follow. but this IL IA yOt n morn
delicate operation than has ever been per.
formed. Ho thinks there Is n faint posi-.
blity OF success In tho case OF children,
from tho sct that tho orbital cavity Is i'm
perfectly developed, ard although the
transplantod eve or a ful!-grown animal
GOULD not DO expected 10 increase in size,
tho substitution OF young dogs eve
might obviato this diHl;ulty, as IL might,
II tho union wero perfect, continue 10 grow
"a Il would have done in its normal posi-
ton